BUSINESS INSIGHT: We must break down remoteness barriers in Highlands

The staffing shortage in the Highlands is no secret and the FSB has repeatedly drawn attention to the dire consequences for our region. But why the problem and how should we tackle it?

Well, things like the post-pandemic ‘Great Resignation’ and post-Brexit reduction in seasonal overseas workers are important, but the big problem is demographic decline. For while Inverness’s population is healthy, the situation in many rural areas is dire, populations both ageing and declining.

So, what’s to be done? Well, short-term measures like making it easier for employers to recruit overseas by including EU countries within the Youth Mobility Scheme would help many employers, but they don’t solve population decline.

Success means increasing the number of resident young people and families, which means making this region an even better place to live, work and play. Trouble is, doing so means breaking down remoteness barriers, including transport and digital, and providing affordable accommodation – all very costly. But we – public, private, third sectors and residents – can achieve far more pulling together than we can divided, and we must hope that the Scottish Government’s new Addressing Depopulation Action Plan will lead the way in increasing co-operation and collaboration.

As a first step, the Scottish Government’s rock-solid commitment to dualling the A9 to Inverness by 2035 is a giant step forward, but 16 years is a long time and we cannot relax. We must maintain the pressure to get the job done.

David Richardson is the regional development manager at FSB.